When silly makes sense; Angela Park memories

By Michael Apichella
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Published: April 30, 2017

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SUBMITTED PHOTO Pinky Lee visited Angela Park in August 1958 and posed for a photo with park visitors. From left: first row, Karen Hutton, 1½, and Michael Apichella, 4; second row, Karla Hutton, 7; Frank Apichella Jr., 7; Pinky Lee; and Marie Apichella. In the background are some of the Barletta brothers, owners and managers of the park. The photo was provided by Michael Apichella and was taken by the late Standard-Speaker photographer Phil Sarno.

“Why do all the silly things you say make so much sense?” The novelist Eduard Uspensky asked this question. The guy doesn’t know me from Adam’s Ox, but he just as well might’ve been talking about me.

For years I’ve been saying Hazleton’s a good place to live, work and raise a family. OK, our weather’s lousy, sadly our finest buildings have been razed, and in some neighborhoods, crime keeps good citizens cowering behind locked doors. But our future still looks bright because our people are faithful, hard-working and friendly. Silly, huh?

Like a blackbird watching a gardener turn soil with a fork, I’ve scrutinized this town, writing about both its blessings and curses. Although the overwhelming majority of my feedback’s positive, some write to say I see Hazleton through rose-tinted glasses.

One lady told me I wouldn’t be so optimistic if I still lived here. Hey, I’ve never said we don’t have problems. We do. And we did. And we always will. But study our history, and you’ll see there’ve been far worse times. We’ve seen boom-and-bust cycles since our inception. The population’s shrunk and grown, the economy’s expanded and tanked, and our quality of life has turned up as well as turned down. I’m predicting another upturn soon. And I’m not alone in believing this.

John Augustine, president of Penn’s Northeast, the regional marketing arm of economic development organizations, told the CAN DO Inc. board recently that Hazleton and Northeast Pennsylvania have the features business and industrial prospects look for when ready to relocate, according to Speaker reporter Jim Dino. Augustine added, “We are seeing a trend that poses very well for the Hazleton area. Penn’s Northeast’s purpose is to help organizations like CAN DO bring in prospects they perhaps wouldn’t normally bring in to create jobs for the region.”

I haven’t read Mr. Augustine’s research, but as I say, the number-one advantage we have around here is our people, both the old families as well as the newer ones. They aren’t afraid of hard work. And that hard work pays off.

For most, after a few years living and working in Hazleton, it’s possible to buy modest houses below the average market price. This fact alone has drawn hundreds of new immigrants from South and Central America, the former Soviet Union, Asia and many of the larger cities along the Eastern Seaboard. And compared to their stay-behind families and friends in the old countries and neighborhoods, the newcomers live like Dukes.

Of course they want Hazleton to flourish. More than anyone, the newcomers dread the spread here of the brutal elements they left behind. Most only ask for a chance to work and to contribute to Hazleton’s well-being, exactly like earlier waves of immigrants to the area.

And another thing. Straddling two nations as I do, I see a lot in Europe that I wish happened here, such as providing better educational opportunities, subsidized health care and shorter working hours. But one crucial difference I’ve noticed between the USA and Europe is attitudes toward work. For instance, say two fellows are digging a ditch on Broad Street. If a new SUV pulls up to a light, the first man might turn to the other and say, “One day I’ll have two of those suckers.” In London, the ditch-digger most likely would say, “One day that crud will be down here with us.”

In my last column, I was singing the praises of salvaging our old buildings and putting them to good use the way it’s done in most of Europe instead of wantonly tearing them down. Gary Holodick responded. He’s been a teacher in the Hazleton-Area School District now for 36.55 years and still going strong.

“Most of my years were spent at the Arthur Street School, constructed in 1916. Then, the entire school and furnishings cost $100,000 to construct and furnish. I remember custodians replacing 60-watt light bulbs, shoveling coal into the massive furnace, and placing duct tape on old windows to keep out the blinding Arthur Street winds and snow.

“The building was remodeled and a new gym constructed in 2000 for a truly state-of-the- art facility. Currently the building is 101 years old and is a testament as to how old buildings can be refurbished!” The restoration cost $9 million and continues to educate thousands of students. Thanks, Gary. Keep up the good work!

I also mentioned that man-about-town Sam Lesante has put together a wonderful documentary about Angela Park. Sam’s been on the Hazleton scene for as long as I can remember, championing the Hazleton area through his media work at SSPTV. According to Sam’s web page, now’s the time to order your own copy of the Angela Park DVD. “We’ve spent a lot of time on it so far getting the word out in search of pictures and videos and then scanning and digitizing the footage to a higher quality. We’ve talked to a handful of people that played significant roles at the park, and they have agreed to be interviewed,” the website says.

Angela Park showcased many national entertainers, all free of charge to the park patrons, as the photo of my family and me with children’s TV host Pinky Lee attests. If you loved the park as I did, write to tell me, and be sure to pre-order your DVD documentary today for a discount price of $19.99. Phone: 570-455-7267 or email ssp@ssptv.com

Michael Apichella, a former Hazleton resident, is a writer living in Europe. Visit his website at www.michaelapichella

.com, contact him at apichella

speaker@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter, @ApichellaPhD.

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